Abstract
THE Earth's most active zone of mantle seismicity arises from the subduction of the Pacific plate at the Tonga trench1. It is not known why this slab generates so many more earthquakes than other subducting slabs worldwide. Above the subduction zone the active Tofua (Tonga) volcanic arc is separated by the V-shaped Lau basin from a remnant arc, the Lau ridge, located at the eastern edge of the Australian plate2. The irregular and discontinuous magnetic lineations within the basin have proven difficult to interpret3,4, and so the regional kinematic framework has been obscure. We report geodetic measurements of crustal motion within the Tonga-Lau system, which reveal the fastest crustal motions yet observed. The Lau basin is opening at a rate which increases northwards to a maximum of ∼160 mm yr−1 No straining is observed within the northern Tonga ridge, suggesting that it comprises part of a rigid microplate. Convergence rates across the Tonga trench increase northwards to a maximum of ∼240 mm yr−1. The extraordinary seismic activity of the subducting slab is probably related to this unusually rapid subduction.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Oliver, J. O. & Isacks, B. L. J. geophys. Res. 72, 4259–4275 (1967).
Karig, D. E. J. geophys. Res. 75, 239–254 (1970).
Parsons, L. M. & Hawkins, J. W. Proc. ODP Sci. Res. 135, 819–828 (1994).
Lawver, L. & Hawkins, J. W. Tectonophysics 45, 323–339 (1978).
Hamburger, M. & Isacks, B. L. Nature 332, 599–604 (1988).
Dixon, T. Rev. Geophys. 29, 249–276 (1991).
Schutz, B. et al. Bull. Géodésique 67, 224–240 (1993).
DeMets, C., Gordon, R. G., Argus, D. F. & Stein, S. Geophys. Res. Lett. 21, 2191–2194 (1994).
Pelletier, B. & Louat, R. Tectonophysics 165, 237–250 (1989).
Jarrard, R. D. Rev. Geophys. 24, 217–284 (1986).
Weissel, J. K. in Island Arcs, Deep Sea Trenches, and Back-Arc Basins (eds Talwani, M. & Pitman, W. C.) 429–436 (Am. Geophys. Union, Washington DC, 1977).
Morton, J. & Pohl, W. Geol. Jb. 92, 93–108 (1990).
Frohlich, C. A. Rev. Earth planet. Sci. 17, 227–254 (1989).
Hamburger, M. & Isacks, B. L. J. geophys. Res. 92, 13841–13854 (1987).
Molnar, P., Freedman, D. & Shih, J. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 56, 41–54 (1979).
Bevis, M. Science 240, 1317–1319 (1988).
Billington, S. thesis, Cornell Univ. (1980).
Chapple, W. M. & Forsyth, D. W. J. geophys. Res. 84, 6729–6749 (1979).
Isacks, B. L. & Barazangi, M. in Island Arcs, Deep Sea Trenches, and Back-Arc Basins (eds Talwani, M. & Pitman, W. C.) 99–114 (Am. Geophys. Union, Washington DC, 1977).
Bevis, M. Nature 323, 52–53 (1986).
Giardini, D. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 74, 75–88 (1992).
Kirby, S. H. J. geophys. Res. 92, 13789–13800 (1987).
Louat, R. & Pelletier, B. Tectonophysics 167, 41–55 (1989).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bevis, M., Taylor, F., Schutz, B. et al. Geodetic observations of very rapid convergence and back-arc extension at the Tonga arc. Nature 374, 249–251 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/374249a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/374249a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Trace elements in abyssal peridotite olivine record melting, thermal evolution, and melt refertilization in the oceanic upper mantle
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (2023)
-
The 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Volcano Air-Wave Generated Tsunami
Pure and Applied Geophysics (2022)
-
Interrelation of the stagnant slab, Ontong Java Plateau, and intraplate volcanism as inferred from seismic tomography
Scientific Reports (2021)
-
Rapid coupling between solid earth and ice volume during the Quaternary
Scientific Reports (2021)
-
Slow deformation event between large intraslab earthquakes at the Tonga Trench
Scientific Reports (2021)